Graceland Fruit, Inc.

Kellogg Company

Graceland Fruit Cooperative, Inc.

Nirmal K Sinha

Meena Sinha

Chris L Willoughby

Michael N Bauman

Duane C Nugent

Steve D Nugent

Danielle J Starlin

One aspect of the present invention includes no sugar added dried and dessert fruits that do not contain added sugar, and moreover do not compromise the sweetness, flavor, color and texture properties of the dried and dessert fruits. Yet another aspect of the present invention includes a process for preparing no sugar added dried and dessert fruits that do not compromise the sweetness, flavor, color and texture properties of the dried and dessert fruits.

No sugar added dried and dessert fruits and processes for preparing the same

A method for physical separation and purification of bioactive phenolics from fruits, berries and vegetables by subjecting a fruit, berry or vegetable extract solution having a Brix of from about 1 to about 4 to ultrafiltration using an about 2,000-6,000 Dalton cutoff ultrafiltration membrane under a pressure of about 30-120 psi, and a temperature of about 80-110&#xb0; F. This is followed by subjecting the resulting retentate to diafiltration-ultrafiltration with the addition of water, using an about 2,000-6,000 Dalton cutoff ultrafiltration membrane under a pressure of about 30-120 psi, and a temperature of about 80-110&#xb0; F., and recovering the diafiltered retentate or the bioactive phenolic containing solids thereof.

Method for separating and concentrating bioactive phenolics

The present invention includes a process for producing substantially stable produce, typically vegetables and fruit that can be stored in a refrigerated environment for at least about five weeks without preservatives and at least about three months with preservatives. The process involves holding the produce in an aqueous immersion solution that includes a cellular stabilizing agent for a time sufficient to convert the produce into a heat durable piece and thermally processing the heat durable produce in the immersion solution. The use of additional ingredients as components of the immersion solution such as sweeteners, acids, salt, and preservatives are optional.

Process for producing refrigerated produce

Disclosed is a scarified, whole, dried, infused, buoyant cranberry. Further a process for preparing the cranberry is disclosed. The process includes sizing individually quick frozen cranberries by collecting those that pass through a mesh screen with 16 millimeter openings and that are retained on a mesh screen with openings of 9 millimeters. The sized cranberries are then scarified and infused in an infusion solution having a Brix of from 40 to 80 at a temperature of from 29 to 44&#xb0; C.&#xb1;5&#xb0; C. until the cranberries have a Brix of at least about 40. The cranberries are removed from the infusion solution and dried at a temperature of from 73 to 85&#xb0; C. until they have a water activity level of from 0.25 to 0.6 and a buoyancy of at least 30%.

Scarified infused dried buoyant cranberries and method for making same

Disclosed is a peeled whole dried infused buoyant cranberry. Further a process for preparing the cranberry is disclosed. The process includes sizing individually quick frozen cranberries by collecting those that pass through a mesh screen with 16 millimeter openings and that are retained on a mesh screen with openings of 9 millimeters. The sized cranberries are then peeled and infused in an infusion solution having a Brix of from 40 to 80 at a temperature of from 29 to 44&#xb0; C.&#xb1;5&#xb0; C. until the cranberries have a Brix of at least about 40. The cranberries are removed from the infusion solution and dried at a temperature of from 73 to 85&#xb0; C. until they have a water activity level of from 0.25 to 0.6 and a buoyancy of at least 30%. The final dried infused cranberry preferably has a Brix of 76 to 84.

Peeled infused dried buoyant cranberries and method for making same

A process for drying tomatoes which produces higher yielding dried tomatoes having improved color and flavor without the use of preservatives and sulfur dioxide is provided. Generally, the process includes chilling or freezing tomatoes, infusing the tomatoes with an infusion solution, and then drying the tomatoes. The tomatoes may be cut into two or more pieces, bruised or abraised before infusion.

Process and formulation for dried tomatoes

The invention typically includes value-added fruit products and processes for making value-added fruit products by providing brined cherries, optionally freezing the cherries in water for about 12 to about 72 hours, rinsing the cherries to remove sulfur to less than 50 ppm, and infusing the brined cherries. Typically, the processed products comprise less than 10 ppm sulfur.

Process for converting brined sweet cherries into sweetened dried red tart cherry-like products and stabilized black cherry-like products

The method for making high solids containing vegetables comprises immersing vegetables in a liquid of predetermined Brix until the vegetables reach a level of about 28 Brix to about 40 Brix where the liquid contains corn syrup, glycerin, and salts, removing the vegetables from the immersion, optionally spraying with vegetable oil prior to drying, and drying the vegetables.

High solids containing processed and shelf-stable vegetables

A process for infusion-drying carrots comprises immersing the carrots in a circulating bath of infusion syrup, the infusion syrup comprising water and infusion solids, the infusion solids comprising at least 20 weight percent corn syrup and the balance, if any, sugar, until the carrots attain a Brix from about 25 degrees to about 50 degrees, separating the infused carrots from the infusion syrup, and drying the infused carrots, by directing a stream of hot air over and through the infused carrots, the hot air having a temperature from about 140 degrees F. to about 200 degrees F., until the infusion-dried carrots attain a water activity from about 0.30 to about 0.63.

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Frankfort, MI, United States of America

Nirmal K Sinha